The Power of Thor

Click on the Image to See a Larger Version

Thor is a prominently mentioned god throughout the recorded history of the Germanic peoples, from the Roman occupation of regions of Germania, to the tribal expansions of the Migration Period, to his high popularity during the Viking Age, when, in the face of the process of the Christianization of Scandinavia, emblems of his hammer, Mjölnir, were worn in defiance and Norse pagan personal names containing the name of the god bear witness to his popularity. Into the modern period, Thor continued to be acknowledged in rural folklore throughout Germanic regions. Thor is frequently referred to in place names, the day of the week Thursday ("Thor's day") bears his name, and names stemming from the pagan period containing his own continue to be used today.

I created this image of Thor on my Wacom tablet...and then quite a bit of digital work in Photoshop.  I wanted to create an image of Thor that wasn't too specific about what he looks like, so that the person viewing it would fill in the details with their own thoughts about Thor.  But, I wanted the image to communicate the raw power of Thor.


Mark Ludwig Stinson
Jotun's Bane Kindred
Temple of Our Heathen Gods
http://www.heathengods.com

Mead Competition at Lightning Across the Plains 2012

At every LATP there have been some amazing mead-makers in attendance. This year, at Lightning Across the Plains near Kansas City on September 20-23, 2012 we'll have a mead competition on Saturday afternoon.  Anyone attending LATP can enter the contest, and below you will find all the details you need to know.  To learn more about LATP or to register for the event, visit http://www.latpgathering.com.

You can sign up for the mead-making contest at the registration table when you arrive at LATP.  Each mead-maker is allowed to enter one or more mead varieties for the competition.  You must supply two bottles of each mead variety in order to enter.  For example, if you are entering only one type of mead in the competition then you need only supply two bottles of it.  But, if you are entering three mead varieties, then you will need to supply 2 bottles of each, for a total of six bottles.

There are two awards available in the mead competition.

MEAD MASTER 2012 - Seven judges from across the Midwest will be chosen based on their experience, pallet, and understanding of mead.  These seven judges will taste each mead in the competition rating each on a wide variety of factors.  The final result will be the selection of one winner who will be declared the Mead Master of LATP 2012.  The Mead Master will receive a beautifully made woodburned plaque to take home with them for bragging rights.

FOLK FAVORITE 2012 - Scores of LATP attendees will have an opportunity to sample the meads that have been entered in the competition, and will then vote for their favorite mead by putting a chip in a voting box for that mead.  At the end of this sampling and voting process the final result will be the selection of one winner who will be declared the Folk Favorite of LATP 2012.  The Folk Favorite will also receive a beautifully made woodburned plaque to take home with them for bragging rights.

Both the Mead Master and the Folk Favorite will get their name on the Lightning Across the Plains website as a standing record of their accomplishment.  The Mead Master and Folk Favorite will be announced and receive their awards at the end of the public Thing meeting.

So, if you are a mead-maker and you are attending Lightning Across the Plains, step up, enter the mead competition, and claim your title!  To learn more about LATP or to register for the event, visit http://www.latpgathering.com.

Mark Ludwig Stinson

Jotun's Bane Kindred

Temple of Our Heathen Gods

http://www.heathengods.com